• [Daily Mirror Icon]
• Sport
• Other Sports
• John Virgo

EXCLUSIVE: John Virgo's devastated widow breaks silence over BBC star's sudden death

The grieving widow of snooker giant John Virgo led tributes to the man dubbed Mr Perfection for his sporting prowess after his sudden death, aged 79.

The sudden death of snooker legend John Virgo sent shockwaves through the sporting world today. And his grieving widow has spoken exclusively to the Mirror about the loss, leading tributes to the man dubbed 'Mr Perfection.'

Making it to the 1979 World Championship semi-finals, John beat Terry Griffiths 14-13 to win the UK Championship the same year - despite arriving late for the final session and being docked two frames. A larger than life character, he became a TV favourite co-hosting 1990s gameshow Big Break with Jim Davidson, with his famous catchphrase: "Where's the cue ball going?" And he was a champion commentator, covering snooker for the BBC.

Speaking just hours after his death from the home they shared in Mijas Costa, Spain, his widow, Rosie Ries told The Mirror: We were just days shy of our 16 year wedding anniversary. I cant imagine life without John, he was the love of my life and my best friend. Married since 2009, the couple had been friends for decades before falling in love.

[A recent picture of John and Rosie, shared with the Mirror by Rosie]

View 9 Images

A recent picture of John and Rosie, shared with the Mirror by Rosie

Johns best friend James Malyon, who was with Rosie, confirmed cause of death as "a ruptured aorta - completely out of the blue", and added: "I'm all over the place, it's obviously a bit of a shock, it came out of the blue - just five hours ago." James, met John who had two children from his second marriage, Gary and Brook-Leah, playing golf.

[John Virgo with Jim Davidson on Big Break]

View 9 Images

John Virgo with Jim Davidson on Big Break(Image: BBC)

He continued: "I knew of John before he moved to Spain, of course. We've been good friends, I've loved playing golf with him and socialising with him and Rosie. He was a great man, a great character - the life and soul of the party."

Friends and family of John, who moved from Surrey to Spain in 2020, are planning several celebrations of his life, starting next week. James continues: "In Spain, the only time things seem to move quickly is when it comes to funerals. I've asked them to give us a bit of time. So we're looking at the end of next week.

The service for friends and family will be in Mijas Costa, about 20 minutes from Malaga, and there will be a memorial in the UK. James adds: "I'm at his wife's house now, she's a little bit in shock, but she's okay. She has a lot of support. It's nice to see how much he meant to so many people. He had such a long and good life.

[A picture taken after a Black Ball Final Tour event, shared by Michael Hall McPherson, showing Steve Davis, Dennis Taylor and John Virgo]

View 9 Images

A picture taken after a Black Ball Final Tour event, shared by Michael Hall McPherson, showing Steve Davis, Dennis Taylor and John Virgo

John, who married three times, was as colourful in life as his trademark waistcoats. Growing up in post-war Salford, he inherited his fathers love of horse racing and spent his teenage years hustling in local snooker clubs. Turning pro in 1976, he retired in 1994 and was later inducted into the World Snooker Tour hall of fame.

And he found even wider fame - and fortune - on the snooker-based game show Big Break, which ran from 1991 to 2002. He even brought out his own line of waistcoats on the back of it and it led to panto roles, book deals - and his own trick shot app.

Fellow snooker legend and World Champion Ken Doherty, who commentated alongside John for the BBC, said on hearing of his death: Im so sad, Im in shock, absolutely devastated. He was great company. His death is such a loss. He touched so many people's lives, he told us. Working together we became really close. He was like a godfather to me. I was only with him in Spain before Christmas. We went out for dinner a couple of times and played golf.

[John and his famous waistcoats]

View 9 Images

John and his famous waistcoats(Image: TV Times via Getty Images)

"John was a wonderful storyteller. We both loved Manchester United - he was born in Salford, of course, right by the ground. Between him and Dennis [Taylor] they took me under their wing and I learned so much from sitting beside him. He had a knack of dramatising the game, hed have me in stitches. It didn't get any better than that in the commentary box. Its theatre, hed say. And he was right.

I spoke to his wife Rosie this morning, who was obviously in shock. He was so full of life. He told me just last week he was looking forward to working together in Wales, for the Welsh Open. And now we have to do it without him. Hell be so very missed. A great, great man.

In his 2017 autobiography, Say Goodnight JV, he spoke candidly about the severe gambling addiction that nearly destroyed his life and career, after he borrowed 200,000 to fund it and had his home repossessed. Just before his death, John had been involved in a number of sell-out shows on the Black Ball 40th Anniversary Tour.

[John was a much loved - and very funny - commentator]

View 9 Images

John was a much loved - and very funny - commentator(Image: Getty Images)

It was a rematch of Steve Davis and Dennis Taylors 1985 World Snooker Final - which attracted 18.5 million viewers - with commentary by John. Dennis Taylor said: We just did three shows together - Steve, John and I - last week. I just cant believe hes gone.

Ive known John for over 50 years. When I moved to Blackburn I was 17 and John was 19 and in Salford, not many miles away. We grew up together in the snooker world. When he won the UK Championship in 1979 the BBC was on strike and never got to show it. How unlucky was that?

Touring with John in the last year, weve had an absolute ball. We did three shows just last week. John did amazing impersonations, he knew how to make people laugh. He knew how to do me - he just had to get the biggest pair of glasses he could find and stick them on.

[One of John's last photos - taken by his friend of over a decade, Michael Hall McPherson]

View 9 Images

One of John's last photos - taken by his friend of over a decade, Michael Hall McPherson

Dennis says he and John pioneered humour in snooker commentary, adding: People will remember John for being one of the game's great characters. His sense of humour was brilliant. Its a sad old day for the game. And I've lost a dear friend of 50 years.

Snooker champion Steve Davis choked back tears, as he added: Were all a bit upset. He had such a warm heart. One personal memory was when I lost to Dennis Taylor in the final of 1985 - it was one of the most exciting moments in the game's history.

When I went back to the dressing room, I was in floods of tears. And the one person who knocked on the door and came in was John. Not that he wanted me to win or lose, but he knew what it meant. He was moved by what had happened. Its a sad, sad day for snooker. One of our most loved friends has passed and our hearts are broken.

[Steve, Dennis and John ready to hit the stage]

View 9 Images

Steve, Dennis and John ready to hit the stage

Our thoughts are with his family. Its become a day to reflect on how much this warm hearted and funny maverick meant to us all. And he was a brilliant commentator. The [Sheffield] Crucible will shed more than a few tears this April.

Johns friend Michael Hall McPherson saw John last week. He said: The news is just devastating. I had dinner with John on Thursday, and dropped him off at Birmingham airport. He was in such good spirits. Sharing one of the last photographs taken of John, he added: I met John 10 years ago as a sports promoter on the way up.

He was a decent man, a union man from the North West, who would do anything for others. There was no facade to him. He was totally John Virgo all the time, with bundles of humility. He was also a wonderful husband, caring and kind. Ill treasure our memories together. Life goes quickly, he told me last Thursday. Those words are so poignant now.

[John Virgo was a snooker legend]

View 9 Images

John Virgo was a snooker legend(Image: Getty Images)

Speaking from Hong Kong, snooker legend Ronnie OSullivan, said: Finished my match to get the news. Love to Rosie, Brooke and Gary, Such a great mate who I loved spending time with, absolutely gutted. Snooker great Jimmy White posted on social media: Goodnight JV, with a broken heart emoji. And Jim Davidson said: Heartbroken to hear that my great mate John Virgo has passed away at 79. What a character, what a talent.

Jason Ferguson, chairman of the World Governing Body of Snooker (WPBSA) remembers John as a superb player and entertainer. He said: I have known John personally for as long as I can remember. He portrayed our sport in another world. Who can forget him on Big Break? Its one of my greatest memories of him - hosting that show, doing trick shots.

[John and Rosie]

View 9 Images

John and Rosie

I started my life as a young snooker player and I remember him putting on his fake hair and big glasses and entertaining everyone. He was funny back then, and he was funny until he died. The last time I saw him was at the Masters not long ago and I spent a lot of time with him at the UK Championships in York. Its a very sad day for snooker. A great man. Hell be missed by all that knew him.

Snooker MC and commentator Rob Walker spent time with John, who commented on the Masters Live for the BBC 17 days before his death, just two weeks ago. He said:He was still at the very peak of his powers. I'm really shocked. It's the end of an era, that's for sure."

[Daily Mirror Icon]

RIP John Virgo

[John Virgo's devastated widow breaks silence over BBC star's sudden death]

John Virgo's devastated widow breaks silence over BBC star's sudden death

[John Virgo's daughter phoned Jim Davidson as new details of tragic death emerge]

John Virgo's daughter phoned Jim Davidson as new details of tragic death emerge

[Snooker legend John Virgo dies aged 79 as tributes pour in for BBC commentator]

Snooker legend John Virgo dies aged 79 as tributes pour in for BBC commentator

[Jim Davidson shares tribute to Big Break co-star John Virgo after snooker legend's death]

Jim Davidson shares tribute to Big Break co-star John Virgo after snooker legend's death

[Daily Mirror Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.